Safety device for roller coasters



Jan. 2, 1923.

C. G. FEUCHT. SAFETY DEVICE FOR ROLLER COASTERS F1 LED MAY 26 2 SHEETS'SHEET 1 Women 333 fuLs Jan. 2, 1923.

C. G. FEUCHT SAFETY DEVICE FOR ROLLER COASTERS v 2 SHEETS'SHEET 2 F LED MAY 26 1922 or trains Patented Jan. a 1923.

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SAFETY DEVICE'FOB ROLLER COASTERS.

Application filed may 26,

v To all whom it may concern:

State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in. Safety Devices for Roller Coasters, of which the fol lowing is specification.

The invention relates to safety devices for roller coasters in which a series of cars power up a main inclined section of an end less track from which point they are adapted to run by gravity over track sections comprising a plurality of down grades, dips and risers. i

The general object of the present invention is to provide means by which the movement of the cars or trains running bygravity under separated headway may be automatically controlled or intercepted to avoid collisions.

More particularly the invention has for an object the provision of means whereby the accidental backward movement of a car or train on one section of the track will cause the interception of movement of a train on a preceding track section, and will shut off the power and temporarily prevent further advancement of succeeding trains.

The invention also includes certain details of construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter set forth.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference is had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which the various features of the invention are'more particularly pointed out.

Figure 1 of the drawings isa diagrammatic plan view showing an endless track in relation to parts of the operating mechamenu. 7

Figure 2 is a side elevation, diagrammatically showing the lower and upper levels of the track, and the main inclined track section provided with the power elevating means.

Figures 3 and 4 are respectively detail plan and side views of the friction device.

Figure 5 is a detail'elevation ofa weight operating means for actuatingvthe friction device.

Figures 6 and 7 are respectively detail are arranged to be elevated by 1922. Serial No. 563,905..

plan and side views of the safety device, for operating the friction device and" the power cut-off device. i

Figure 8 is a detail view showing a hand lever arranged to operate the friction, device. r I

As indicated by the drawings the track is arranged in the general form of a loop in aplurality of sections, beginning its lowermost level atthepower receiving point 10, and extending upwardly to form a main. incline or riser 11 to an extreme upper level 12, from which point the track extends in a downward grade to form substantially a horizontally extending curved section 13, continuing in a dip or downward, incline 14., whereit merges into a curved section 15, thence into a riser 16 to the point .17, where itbeginsa second downward slope toform a curved tracksection 18; from which latter point the track continues its. general downward descent by a series of well known dips and rises, not shown, to its; lowermost curved level indicated at 19, thelatter level serving as a receiving and sending section for the cars and an operating station, forg controlling the movements thereof; the friction devices disposed along the track. For elevating the cars; up the incline 11, an endless chain 20 is provided andarranged to run over aseriesofidlers 21, 22, 23, 24

and driven by thechain wheel 25 which in turn is driven. by the :pulley 26,belt from the pulley 28 on the electric motor 29,tlie operating vcurrent for the'latteiq being controlled from the switch handleBl) arranged to be opened, as indicated inv dotted lines, by the lever 31 conveniently mounted adj acent the motoronthe upright 32.

The upper curve track sections 13 are suitably supported on the structureindicated.

at 33,-which also carries the friction plates conveniently spaced with respect to the track and adapted to be. engaged icy correspondingly spaced shoes 73arranged'0n the bottom surface of the cars.- The friction; plates are supported through blocking35 upon the track structure in afyielding manner by bolts, 36, passing. through the structure, and provided with springs 37 and so arranged as tov exert a. downward thrush;

I upon the plates. For operating. the friction plates a series of cam levers 38 are provided and pivoted to the track structure at 39,. the upper or plate engaging ends thereof being cam shapedor eccentrically arranged With respect to their pivot points, while the lower ends of the levers are pivotally connected together in pairs by the connection rods 40; and for operating each of the said pairs of connected cam levers 38, a bellcrank lever 41 is provided,' the latter being pivotally mounted by a vertical pin 42, fixed in the bracket '43, con-w veniently carried by the track structure. A connecting rod 44 connects one end of the bell-crank lever to the jointly connected pair of cam levers While the opposite arms, of

i the bellcrank levers are jointly connected together by the rods 45, as shown in Fig. 1. At one end of the series of bell-crank levers the direction of operating movement is changed from a substantially horizontal path to avertical one by means of a connection rod'46 engaging a bell-crank lever 47, the latter being pivotally mounted on a horizontal axis and adapted by its move ment in opposite directions to jointly operate the series of cam levers 38 in a similar inanner. I

For operating the above friction device as an emergency brake, a Weight 48 is employed and provided at its upper end with an eye rod 49, in Which is'connected a shackle outer end of the bell-crank lever 47 in such manner as to afford a slaclr condition of l1l16 0&blQ While the Weightis supported by the'hook 51. To the free end of the detent arm 55 is secured an operating line 58 which passes over an idler Wheel 59 and is adapted to raise the outer end of the detent arm and thereby release the carrier rod 52, al-' lovving the latter to turn about its pivotal point and drop the Weight 48, theforce of vvhlch acting through the cable 57 and lever 47 serves to raise the yielding friction plates 34 a sufficient amount to afford a full frictional or bra-king engagementupon the 55 ter toa complete stop.

F ixed upon the supporting members '60 shoes of the moving cars andbring the latand 61 ofthe inclined riser section 16, is a safety device adapted to operate through the line 58 to release the Weight and set the emergency brake. As shown in the detail plan v1eW,Eig. 6, and-in the partial sectional elevatloml ig. 7, the safety device comprises a block orcase 62 having an elongated reces's 63 and a slot 64 extending through said er'ativei ha ides? case, the recess being shaped to loosely receive an elongated tongue 65 of variable Width. In its normal position as shown the forward or upper end of the tongue is raised above the upper surface of the case Where it engages as a stop the forward end Wall 66 of the recess, Which engagement is normally maintained by the flexible line 67 passing over the sheave Wheel 68 rotatably mounted the block. 7 At its lower or rearward end the tongue is formed for a distance in a relatively narrow Width which gradually increases to form a shoulder or bend 69 about Which the tongue is adapted to rock as a pivotalpoint, the lower or nan rovv end of the tongue engaging the up Wardly inclined bottom Wall 70 of the re; cess. At its upper end the line (57 is fixed to'the narrow loWer end of the tongue and at its lower end theline is provided With a Weight 71 adapted to exert a force tending to hold the lower or narrow end of the tongue against the inclined Wall 70 and the upper end of the ton; 2;ucagainst the stop Wall 66 and above the upper surface of the case, the latter being provided With a cover plate TQ'arranged to cover a section of the recess and to limit the upward movement of the tongue. During the ordinary run ning movementof the cars over the track,

one of the car-shoes 73 engages the'up Wardly projecting tongue member 65 and downwardly-forces the same about its pivotal point 69 and into the recess, the other parts of the safety device remaining inop- In the normal movement of the cars over the dip section 14 of the track, the velocity obtained therebyis sufficient to carry the carsvvcll over the relatively shorter and flatter riser section 16 and along the descend in grade 18; but in the event of an unforeseen obstruction or disarrangement of any of the parts thereof tending to cause addi tlonal IfIlCtlO-Il resistance to the running movement of'the cars, resulting in the arrest of their forward movement before reaching the top of the riser section and a backward movement thereof, then the rear end of the car-shoe 78 will in their back- Ward movement engage the upper projecting end of the tongue65. In this latter en gagement the tongue will be forced to slide lengthwise along the recess 63 and below the cover plate 72 and against the resistance of the connected Weight 71; the lower or narrow end of the tongue being upwardly forced over the inclined bottom Irv-all '20 and into engagement With the upper end of the lever 74 pivotally mounted in the bracket 75, fixed to the adjacent track-support 6].. In its engagement by the tongue, the upper end of the lever 74 is adapted to move in the slot 64, While its opposite or lower end is connected to the line 58 and serves to ing chain and thus prevent c advancement otthe cars along: the track.

in cars over the ll hile the inoveinen. intercepted by the above-c "encv brake, operating from the riion plates n1 o't said aiso l emei agency station adjacent the levelot This hand lever is formed 7 I e a ranged with inflexible connecleading through aconveniently arrang i ll spondingl shaped leve "friction device. Upon the arm '77 is'lixed a Wear-plate S73 adapted to the gradm ated teeth formed in "the plate 82 hired to the standard "T8, andbv the adjustment of the he plate corresponding adjustments may be made through the connection rods to raise and lower the friction plates relatively to the cars to effect on the latter a variable degree of frictional resistance, and thereby control their rate of movement along the track. Also pivotally carried by the standard 78 is a second hand lever 83 having an arm 8 iconnected to the line 85, leading to an idler or sheave Wheel corresponding to and lateral y position-ed with respect to the idler wheel 59, and froznwhich point the line led and made "fast to the end of the detent arm 05. As thus connected the hand lever 85% may at any time be operated to release the Weight and the emergency 0'5 the line 58. v

In the general running operation of the cars aronn" thetrack with respect to the se ral safety devices, a loaded'train co1n need at the operating or receiving station along the dovrn grade lower level of the l riction plates 3t engaging hand lever 7T,located it and pivotally mounted the outer end of which is verBll to the corre- 1' 4i? connected to the,

nd le er With respect to the toothed brake independently of the automatic action.

prising a plurality of cars is manually ad-. sired rest ly descending l6, and then in theusual of dips and rises (not ner to raise or loivcrthe friction plates on their tract: sections for theengagernentot the cars, the engagement oeing adjusted to suit the varyingWeather conditions and the required gravity speed to li'lllifitlle dip and riser sections l5, and ltland continue nioveniient ot' the ca along the track. I-i case of interception, or failure of the'c'ars i to fully make the rise 16, thetrain-nvill begin a backward downgrade movement, and engagenient will be inadebetiveen the rear end ot'one ot' the cars of the train and thetongue oil? the suitably POSl't-lOZ'lQil safety device that will release the eight 48, causing the friction plates to be sulliciently raised to serve asan en'iergency brake to intercept the forward, movement (it the next tolloWing train. te. emergencyv brake? is applied the safety device also operates to shut off the power from the drive chain 20 and prevent further advancement of the cars up the nain inclinedtrack section 11. The interception or accidental stoppage of a train during its gravity nioveinent up the riser section 16 may be due to various causes, as displace ment of trackor car parts, or ot carelessness or toolery on the part of the passengers.

For the further operative control of the cars, the track maybe provided at' desired terruption of the service, that the detached parts may be speedily replaced intothe normalivorking position withdittle or no "loss of time. H 3

While I have illustrated, and; described the preferred construction andarrangement of the several devices and the manner in which the cooperateto accomplish the des, it is to be understood that va-v rious deta h anges may be made in the several parts ithout departing fEOHIilllB essential principle and scope or" the invention.-

Having, thus described I my invention, What I claim as new and desire to'secure by Letters Patent, is: v p

1.' A roller coaster comprising a tracl adapted for the movement of a car, a frictiondevicearranged on a section out said track, a safety device arr-angedon a section of said track inadvance of tllGSGCtlOII carry- 'in'g said friction device, said safety device car, and means actuated by the hackwr 1 movement ofa car to engage said safety oe- V106 for the operation ofsaid-frictionjdevice for the operation of said friction do vice. i

2." A roller coaster comprising a track adapted for the movement of a car, a friction device arranged on a section of sa d track, a safety device arranged on a sectio'nof' said 5 track in advance of the section carrying saidfr1ct1on de-v1ce,sa1d safety device being operatively connected to said fri tion devic means on said safety deviceheld ino'pera-' a ll tive during the forward movement of vice.

'3; A roller coaster comprising a track adapted for the movement of a car, a friction device arranged'on' a section of said track, a weight adapted when released to operate said friction device, a safety device arranged on 'a'section of said track in advance of the section carrying said friction device,

said safety device being op'eratively connected to release said weight, and means actuated loy' the backward movement of the m 1 lease of said weight.

4. A roller coaster comprising a track adapted for the movement of a car, a friction device arranged on a sectlon of said.

track, a weight adapted when released to operate said friction device, a safety device yarranged on a section of said track in vance of the section" carrying said friction device, said safety device being operatively connected to release said weight, means onv said safety device held inoperativeduring the forward movement of a car, and means actuated by the backward movement of a car toengage said safetydevice for the release ofsaid weight. J

5. A roller coaster comprisinga' track adapted for the movement of'cars, a source of'powerarranged to operate said cars over a section of said'track, a safety device arranged on a section of said trackin advance of the section provided with said source of power, said safety device being operatively connected to means for cutting off 3 said source of power, and means actuated by the .hack'wa-rd movement of a car to engage said connected to'means for'cutting off-said source safety device and power. 6; A; roller coaster comprlslng a track cut off saidsource of adapted for the movement of cars a source of-power arranged to operate said cars over section of said'tra'ck, a safety device an i ranged on a section of said trackin advance;

of the section provided with said source of power said safety device being operatively of power, means on said safety device held inoperative during the forward movement of a car thereover, and means actuated'by the backward-movement'of a car to engage friction device.

- adapted for the movement of cars, afsource said safety device for the said'safety device and cutofi said source of power. s I f i. A roller coaster comprlsing a track adapted for the'movement of cars,-a source of power arranged to operate said care over a section of said track alfriction device arranged on a section of said-track in advance of the section provided with said source of power. a safety device arranged on a section of said track in advance of the section carry mg said friction device, said safety device being jointly connected to means for cutting of said source of powerfland for operating said friction device, and means actuated by the backward movement of a car to engage said safety device for jointly cutting off said source" of power and operating Stud 8. A roller coaster, comprising a track safety device held inoperative during the forward movement of car thereover, and means actuated by the backward movement of a car to engage said safety device for jointly cutting off said source of power and operating said friction device.

9. A roller coaster comprising a-traclr adapted for the movement of a car,a fricon device arranged on a rearward section ,of said track,,a weight adapted when released to operate said friction device, and

.means operated by the movement of a car ofcr a forward section of said trackfor re leasing said weight.

10. A; roller coaster comprising a track .dapted for the movement of a car, a fr ction device arranged on a rearward section of said'tra'ck, a weight suspended adjacent said friction device in slackconnection. therewith, and means operatedhy themovement of a car over a for section of said track'for releasing said weight forthe operationof said friction device.

11. in a rolier coaster, a friction device arranged to control the movement of the cars over arearward section of the track a weight connected to andadapted'to operate said friction device, and means operated by the movement of a car over aforward section of c track for COlfiiJlQlllIlgyllllG operaiicn said weight.

1231 friction device comprisingfriction plates adapted to engage a car in its movement over arearward section oftheetrack," a

a weight connected to said plates and adapt movement of a weight connected to said plates adapted to exert a force thereon to intercept the movement of the car, supporting for saidweight arranged independently of said plates and comprising a pivotally mounted carrier rod supported against movement by ade tent arm, and means actuated by the movement of a car over a forward section of the track for operating said d tent arm for the Weight-releasing movement of said carrie rod. 4 7

let. A roller coaster comprising a track adapted for the movement of cars, on operating station therefor, a friction device arranged on a rearward section of the track, said friction device comprising friction plates adapted to engage a car on said rearward track section, a weight connected to said plates and adapted to exert-a force thereon to intercept the movement of the car,support1ng means for, said weight arranged independently said plates, means for tripping said weig snpporti means by the movement of a car over a rward section of ed on said operating station an operatively connected to release said weight-tripping means. i

15. A roller coaster comprising a track adapted for toe movement of cars, ficticn devices arranged adjacent a rearward section of the track and comprising friction plates adapted to engage and control the movement of the cars thereon, means for yieldin 'ly supporting said friction plates H386 of said cars, cam-levers arranged to urge said plates into engagement with said cars in opposition to said yielding means, means for jointly connecting said camdevers together, means for operating said jointly connected levers, and means actuated by the movement of a car over a forward section of the track for controlling the lever-operating means.

16, A roller coaster comprising a track adapted for the movement of cars, friction devices arranged adjacent a rearward section of the track and comprising friction plates adapted to engage and control the movementof the cars thereon, means for yieldingly supporting said friction plates free of said cars, cam-levers arranged to urge said plates into engagement with said cars in opposition to said yielding means, means for jointly connecting said cam-levers together, means,

the track, and a hand lever mount for controlling the operation of saidjointly connected c levers lay the car over a f a hand-lever wanted 'on said operating staionand opeiativel-y connected-to said jointly connected cam-levers.

17. The combination of a track, a frictione plate, yielding means normally urging said and lower said iction plate-in cooperation -.ovement of a Vvvard section of r etraclr, and r plate into position with respect to said traclnh a plnralityof cam-levers arranged to raise with said yieidingmeans, joint means for operatively connecting said cam-levers. together, means for operating 'said cam-levers controlled'hy the movement of a'car over a section of the tract: forward plate,'and hand lever connectedtoj said cam-levers and arranged to adjust the position said fllClliull-PlflfQ. I

18. The combinationof a track, a-friction-plate disposed adj acent to saidtr'ack,

of said iriction' a plurality of jointly connected cam-levers arranged; to operate said friction-plate,' a weight havlnga flexible connectlonto-isald cam-levers and normally held mopera-tive with respect thereto, and means operatedhy the movement of a car overa section of the track forward of said frlction-plate forre leasing said weight. A

19. ATOller'coaster comprising plurality oftraclrs'ections adapted for'the gravity operation of the cars, a friction devicearranged on a rearward track section to control the running movement of saidcars, and a safety device arranged on a forwardtrack section and 1 operatively connected to said friction device whereby an -interception of the running movement of a car over the for ward section of the track will cause the interceptlon'of afollowlng' car on the rearward track section.

20. Aroller coaster con'iprising an upwardlyinclined track, power operated' means for a'dvancing the cars up sald incl ned f track, a plurality of track sections adapted for the gravity operation of the cars, a friction device arranged onarearward gravity track section to control the running move-, ment of said cars, and a safety device arranged on a forward gravity tracksectmn and 'operatively connected to said friction device whereby an interception of the run,- ning movement of a car over the forward track section will cut off said power advancing means. j 1 v '21. A roller coaster comprising a plurality of track sections adapted for the gravity operation of the cars, a friction device arranged on a rearward track section to con trol the running movement of said cars, hand operated means adjustably connected to variably hold the tension of said friction devices to control the speed of said cars, and a safety device arranged on a forward track section and connected to said friction device llO' ' whereby an interception of the running movement of a car over the forward section of the track will cause theinterception of a following car on the rearward track Section.

In a rollercoaster having track sections over which the cars areadaptedto advance by gravity, a safety device arranged on a forward section of the track and inciudingamovable tongue held inoperative, during the forward movement of the cars, means adapted to'be operated by said tongue to arrest the advance of thecars over a rear-' ward section of .theftrack, and means adaptedby the backward movement of the cars over sa d safety 1 tongue.

device to operate said 1narolier coaster having track sectime over which the cars are adapted to be advanced b 'ravit 7 and b ower a safet c J b 7 device arranged on'a forwardsectionof the trackvandimcluding a tongue held noperative during the forward advancement of the cars, ineans adapted to be operated by sa1d tongue to JOlIltlY arrest the gravity and the power advancement of the cars over a rearward section of the track, and means adapted by the backward movement of the cars over said safety/device to operate said tongue. 7 24.111 a roller coaster havingtracksections over which thecars are adaptedtobe advanced, a safet device including cas ing arranged on forward section of the over a rearward section of the track, and

, 1neansadapted by the backwardnlovement of the cars'oversaldsafety devlce to operate said tongue i 25 In aroller coaster, a track, a friction device adapted to intercept the advance of the cars on a section of said track, a safetyv device disposed on a. section of saidjtrack forward of said friction device and opera-- tivelv connected to the latter, means adapt ed by the backward movement of a car over.

said safety device to operate said friction device, and a hand-levers operativeiy connected to and adapted to operate sa1d'fr1c:

tion device independently of said safety device.

26. in a roller coaster,

adapted to'intercept the movement of the cars thereon, a

tion device and operativeiy connectedto said source of power and friction device, and means adapted by the'movement of a car track, a source of power including a chainv carrier adapted to elevate the cars over section of said track,-

a friction device arranged on a section of said track forward of, said-power device and ray device disposed on a of said track forward of sald fric over said safety device to jointly operate said source of power and friction device.

:27. In a roller coaster, a track, ya source ,s

of power including a carrier chain adapted to elevate the cars over a section ofjsaid track, a friction devicearranged 'OIII'V'ZLY'VSGO- of the cars thereon,-a safety device disposed on a section of said track forward of said friction device and operatively connected to sa d source of power and friction devlce, means adapted by the movement of a car over said safety device to jointly operate,

said source of power and friction device, and

hand-levers operatively connected to and adapted to operate said friction'and power devices independently of said safety device;

, Signed at .Brooklyn, in the countyv of Kings and State of New York, this 20th day of May, A. 111922; I

CHRISTIAN G; FEUCHT. 1

, tion of'said trackforwardof said powervdevice and adapted to intercept the movement" 

